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 Alpine Accentor |
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We took advantage of a Brittany Ferries special offer to sail to Santander on the MV Pont Aven, with three nights stay at the Parador Fuente De.
10 May – Sailed from Plymouth at 1600 hours. Little bird life other than Gannets, two Guillemots and a single Manx Shearwater.
11 May –The morning was enlivened by a school of tuna and several Fin Whales, including one close to the boat. We docked early in the afternoon (Yellow-legged Gulls as we neared land), and headed for Fuente De. A stop for lunch in the gorge of the N621 before Potes produced several Griffon Vultures, a Short-toed Eagle, Grey Wagtail and White Wagtail. After arriving at the parador, a walk around the area produced more Griffons, a Booted Eagle, Alpine Chough and Red-billed Chough. The latter species in particular tended to feed in the fields behind the parador late every afternoon.
12 May – The cable car was not running, so we scrambled most of the way to the top of the path up the mountain (anticlockwise National Park path 25). A male Rock Bunting gave excellent views as we entered the first field, and as we climbed higher a Honey Buzzard soared above the woods. Black Redstarts were common at all levels, including around the parador, and Stonechats were also easily seen. Eventually a noisy group of four Snowfinches flew over and could be watched feeding on a fairly distant slope.
In the afternoon, a short walk around the nearby village of Espinama gave Crag Martin, Grey Wagtail and a flycatching Blackcap by the stream.
13 May – The cable car was in use at last, so straight to the top (1850 m) on the first (10.00) run. Alpine Accentors were seen straight away, and were quite fearless. A short walk produced a male Black-eared Wheatear, Water Pipits, more Black Redstarts, and good view of four Snowfinches. The Wallcreeper site could not be reached due to deep snow over the path. A flock of Chamois and the dwarf Narcissus asturiensis were of non-avian interest.
In the afternoon, we drove to the village of Pembes a few kilometres down the valley, parked outside the church and walked right and uphill through the village on foot. Eventually the alpine meadows gave way to oakwood. Cirl Bunting and Serin were seen well near the church, and as we went higher Red-backed Shrike, Raven, Wood Warbler and Booted Eagle also showed.
14 May – The drive back to Santander produced a Black Kite as the N621 left its gorge. Apart from the gulls near the harbour, no birds or cetaceans were seen in the increasing choppy conditions.
15 May – An overnight force 8 gale meant that the ferry was running 90 minutes late, but the extra time for watching was of little avail since the conditions were still too rough to pick up anything except gannets.
Jim Frost